The Body Is a Garment of the Spirit
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 3, section 65 of 185: Explaining that the body is as a garment to the spirit (در بیان آنک تن روح را چون لباسی است و این دست آستین دست روحست واین پای موزه‌ی پای روحست). Below, each of its 4 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Explaining that the body is as a garment to the spirit, and that this (bodily) hand is the sleeve of the spirit’s hand, and that this (bodily) foot is the shoe of the spirit’s foot. در بیان آنک تن روح را چون لباسی است و این دست آستین دست روحست واین پای موزه‌ی پای روحست
تا بدانی که تن آمد چون لباس رو بجو لابس لباسی را ملیس
(I mention this insensibility to pain) that you may know that the body is like a garment. Go, seek the wearer of the garment, do not lick (kiss) a garment.
روح را توحید الله خوشترست غیر ظاهر دست و پای دیگرست
To the spirit the knowledge of the Unity (of God) is sweeter (than care for the body): it hath a hand and foot different from those which are visible.
دست و پا در خواب بینی و ایتلاف آن حقیقت دان مدانش از گزاف
You may behold in dream the (spiritual) hand and foot and their connexion (with the spiritual body): deem that (vision) a reality, deem it not to be in vain.
آن توی که بی بدن داری بدن پس مترس از جسم و جان بیرون شدن
You are such that without the (material) body you have a (spiritual) body: do not, then, dread the going forth of the soul from the body.
Special Offers
← Previous sectionMasnavi Book 3 contentsNext section →
More Rumi: the Song of the Reed (Book 1 proem), real Rumi quotes in Persian and the Persian poetry quiz.
Take this lesson further
Serious about Persian? Get all 30 of our Persian learning books for $199.99 (55% less than buying them one by one).
Free Persian Starter Kit (PDF)
The Persian alphabet chart and the 101 most common Persian words with pronunciation, in one printable PDF. You also get a one-time 15% code for any of our books.
We will email you new lessons and book news from Learn Persian Online. Unsubscribe any time.Love Persian poetry? Learn to read it: free Starter Pack
Get the 14-page printable Starter Pack (all 32 letters, a 7-day reading plan, 100 core words and 20 survival phrases) and a short 5-email course. Free.
by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
Reza is an experienced Persian instructor who has been tutoring students since 2008. He is the founder of Learn Persian Online, a tutoring company that has helped many students learn Persian, this beautiful language. He works with students individually and in group settings, he tutors both live and online Persian courses. Reza provides an individualized custom learning plan and the personalized attention that makes a difference in how people view Persian learning process.
What people say about "The Body Is a Garment of the Spirit"?
No one replied yet.